Welcome to the 119th Congress

January 27, 2025

Dear Representative/Senator:

Welcome to the 119th Congress. It is a pleasure to introduce ourselves to you and your office with the hope that you will see the R Street Institute as a trusted source of information as you grapple with the challenges of Washington and begin constructing and pursuing your policy agenda.

The R Street Institute is a D.C.-based think tank dedicated to developing and advancing free market and limited, effective government policy solutions. We are nonpartisan and independent, and pride ourselves on our eagerness and ability to work with organizations and policymakers spanning the ideological and political spectrums. We have a particular aptitude for building and working within tailor-made coalitions that are especially effective at advancing good public policy.

R Street’s policy team consists of a wide range of experts—many of whom have experience as both academics and practitioners in their respective fields of study—who produce useful, practical responses to current problems. It’s what we routinely call “real solutions.” In addition, R Street boasts a team of full-time government affairs professionals based in D.C. who are eager to engage with you and your staff. Here are some of the ways in which we might be useful to you and your office:

• Identifying policy problems that are properly the role of Congress to fix
• Identifying market-based policy solutions to those problems
• Providing deep expertise, perspective, and guidance as you draft new legislation
• Providing primers on policy topics that are the subject of upcoming committee hearings, and suggesting helpful questions that you might ask of the witnesses
• Introducing you to other policy organizations in the D.C. space that can be helpful in your pursuits
• Helping you and your team navigate the highly complex and opaque process and procedures of Congress and the larger federal government

To give you a sense of where we do our most work, below is the list and a short description of each of R Street’s policy programs:

Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

The R Street Institute’s Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties program focuses on public policy reform across the criminal justice system, prioritizing public safety as well as due process, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty.

Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats

The R Street Institute’s Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats team focuses on highlighting cyber vulnerabilities and protecting sensitive information for both individuals and government in a way that enhances economic growth and innovation.

Energy and Environment

Whether working on electricity markets, permitting reform, power plant development, or climate policy, the Energy and Environment team emphasizes the importance of moving away from heavy-handed regulation and fiscal recklessness toward a green invisible hand that empowers—rather than controls—private markets.

Finance, Insurance, and Trade

R Street’s Finance, Insurance, and Trade (FIT) program focuses on policy recommendations that center on risk-based insurance regulation, taxpayer subsidies, and the benefits of mitigation. In addition, the team explores government oversight and expansion into the financial sector, with particular focus on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as corporate governance and tort reform.

Governance

The Governance team tackles how to modernize and improve our electoral system to elect a government worthy of public trust, as well as how to run a government and ensure effective policymaking. Specifically, the team examines the problems created by unfettered government growth, the mismanagement and waste of taxpayer funds, and how to restore the proper balance of power between Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary.

Integrated Harm Reduction

Our Integrated Harm Reduction program is grounded in the understanding that “abstinence only” approaches to behaviors that carry health risks are ineffective at the population level. The team advances policy research and evidence-based public health solutions to help mitigate the harms associated with these behaviors, while preserving individual liberty and promoting public safety.

Project on Women and Families

The Project for Women and Families conducts public policy research on pressing issues for the modern American family, starting with the premise that outdated public policy and regulatory barriers make it more difficult to raise healthy families and participate and succeed in the workforce.

Technology and Innovation

The Technology and Innovation program focuses on fostering technological innovation while curbing regulatory impediments that stifle free speech, individual liberty, and economic progress. This work spans a wide range of topics from anti-trust to content moderation, telecommunications to intellectual property, as well as the rise of artificial intelligence and the value of permissionless innovation.

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We look forward to getting to know you and your staff over the next 24 months and hope to play a meaningful part in your success whenever there may be overlap between your priorities and our mission. As you finalize your committee assignments and your staff settle into their new roles, our team will be in touch to introduce themselves and explore opportunities to collaborate.

In the meantime, we hope you and your staff will join us on Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. ET for a reception we will be hosting in the Rayburn “Gold Room” (Rayburn 2168) in celebration of “Privacy Day.” To register and learn more, please email jvanderslice@rstreet.org, or follow this link: https://www.rstreet.org/events/data-privacy-day-2025-opportunities-for-the-119th-congress. We hope to see you there!

Best wishes to you and your colleagues for a successful 119th Congress. Please contact us any time.

Sincerely,